Variable-pressure acetylene-generator



A. DAVIS.

VARIABLE PRESSURE ACETYLENE GENERATOR. APPLICATIQN FILED NOV. 19. 1913.

1 328 227 Patented J an. 13, 1920.

INVENTOI? A TTOR/VEV T STAES T AUGUSTINE DAVIS, OF NEW 1 8315., N. Y., ASSSIG-NUR TO DAVIS-BOURIIOIJVILLE GOIVIPANY, OF NEVJ YORK, N. 55., A CQRPORATZON OF NEW" Yfilt'if.

VARIABLE-PRESSURE ACETYLENE-GENERATQB.

Application filed November 13, 19123.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, AUGUSTINE DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Jamaica, Long Island, in the county of Queens, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Variable-Pressure Acetylene-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the invention is to provide means of exceedingly simple character for controlling the generation in acetylene generators and enabling the generator to deliver diiferent pressures at will. This is accomplished by the combination of a generator of manometric character, that is to say comprising two water-containing limbs communicating at the bottom, one limb preferably being open to atmosphere, and the other limb exposed to the pressure of the gas chamber above the body of water into which the carbid is dropped, with automatic means for feeding the carbid, and means comprising a float or buoyancy member coacting with one of the water levels to control the feed mechanism; By simple adjustment of an accessible operating connection between the buoyancy member and a control lever or the like, any desired diiference in level and accordingly any desired gas pressure, within a substantial range, can be maintained.

The drawing is a simplified vertical section of a generator embodying the invention, with parts in elevation and broken away.

In a tank 1 a stationary gas bell 2 is placed, in such manner that an outside water chamber or well 3 is formed, communicating With the inside water chamber 4 through the open bottom of the bell. Above the water chamber l is the gas chamber or space 5, the relative volumes occupied by gas and water being variable. Pressure is kept on the gas corresponding to the difference in level of the two water columns. Beneath the closed top 6 of the bell is a carbid hopper 7, from which the carbid is delivered to the water by a rotary platform 8 cooperating with a flexibly suspended ring bearing dislodging cams 9. The platform or disk 8 is carried by the lower end of a rotary shaft 10, which passes downward through the carbid hopper from a clockwork motor 11 supported on the top 6. The motor drives a plate 12 mounted to turn on an axle 13 and possessing one or Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial H0. 263,143.

more stop lugs 14;, cooperating with the end of a lever 15. This particular carbid feed mechanism wit-h stop and start device is well known, and does not require detailed explanation. When the stop end of the lever stands in the path of the lugs 14 the feed is at rest, and, when it moves upward above the path, the clockwork is free to act and carbid is dropped into the water, causing generation to occur.

The lever is fulcrumed at 16, and its other arm is extended out over the outside water chamber or displacement chamber 3, where it bears a drum 17, on which is wound a portion of a cable connection 18, suspending a float 19, which cooperates with the water level in the outside chamber. When this water level rises from the position of the drawingfthe upward movement of the float permits a spring 20 to tilt the control lever so as to stop the feed motor. When it descends, the weight of the float tilts the lever in the opposite direction and permits the motor to operate again. This results in further generation, and the slightly increased quantity of gas in the bell forces the water in the bell downward and the external water level upward, again stopping the feed.

As gas is consumed, the water rises in the bell and falls in the outside chamber, causing the motor to start and feed more carbid. In this way, for any setting of the machine a substantially constant pressure and volume of gas, corresponding to the difference in water levels, is maintained. By Winding or unwinding the cable on the drum, the water levels and the'pressure can be set for any desired values within the range of the machine. Thus, one and the same generator can be readily caused to deliver diflerent pressures, suitable for different kinds of consumption devices. The drum is shown as held against undesired unwinding by a pawl 21 and ratchet 22. Thus, when the water in the outside chamber sinks the weight of the descending float pulls down on the lever, the position of the float, vertically, at which this takes place being determined by the length of cable extending from the drum.

The specific construction of the generator and its control may be widely varied, that shoyv-n being primarily illustrative. The buoyancy member, which is termed a float for convenience, could be heavier than water without altering the principle. Obviously the float could be made to operate the stop and start positively in both directions, and it need not necessarily be located in the outside chamber, though this is decidedly preferable, since it makes the float and its variable control connection readily accessible and avoids a stufiing-box; in addition to which the outside chamber can be made as small in cross-section and as great in vertical extent as desired, thereby making possible both sensitiveness or control and substantial range oi? operating pressures. The cable connection is advantageous for its simplicity; and in general a oneway acting connection, operating oositively on the dos nt of the float, but not on the rise, the carbid feed means being biased to stop by the spring 20, or its equivalent a weight or overweighting of the parts, is preferred because it avoids possibility of placing undue strain on any part when the water in the float chamber carries the float upward.

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. An acetylene generator of the kind wherein carbid is dropped into the water, comprising carbid feed means, inclosuresforming a gas chamber and two water chainbers, the water chambers communicating at the bottom and one being exposed to the pressure of the gas chamber and the other constituting a displacement chamber open to the pressure of the atmosphere, a float capable of operating in a vertical range of positions in one of the chambers, and mechanical operative connections between the float and the carbid feed means including a setting device for causing the generator to operate at higher or lower pressures at will.

2. An acetylene generator comprising an inclosure containing a generating chamber, means for feeding carbid to a body of water in said chamber, an outside vertical displacement chamber communicating at the bottom with the interior of said inclosure and open above to the pressure of the atmosphere, a float having a vertical range of opcrating positions in the outside displace ment chamber, and an adjustable mechanical operative connection between said float and the carbid feed means, whereby the float can be caused to determine various desired differences in water level between the interior of the inclosureand the displacement chamber, thereby causing the generator to deliver at any one of a number of pressures at will.

3. An acetylene generator of the kind wherein carbid is dropped into the water, comorising carbid feed means, inclosures ung a gas chamber and two water chambers, the water chambers communicating at the bottom and one being exposed to the pressure of the gas chamber and the other constituting a displacement chamber open to the pressure of the atmosphere, and means comprising adjustable float operatively connected with the carbid feed means for causing the generator to operate at higher or lower pressures at will.

An acetylene generator as set forth in claim 3, wherein the carbid feed means is lBlilF ctl stop, and the float is connected therewith by a one-way-acting connection operating positively on the descent but not on it rise oi the float, with means for varying the effective length of said connection, for he purpose set forth.

5. An acetylene generator of the kind wherein carbid is dropped into the water, comprising carbid feed means, inclosures to *ming a chamber and two water chambers, the water chambers communicating at bottom and one being exposed to the ore of the gas chamber and the other constituting a displacement chamber open to the pressure of the atmosphere, and means ronnorising an adjustable float with an operative connection with the carbid steed means the effective length of which is adapted to be varied to cause the generator to operate at hi 'her or lower pressures at will.

AUGUSTINE DAVIS. 

